Ignition device for internal-combustion engines.



A. ERICKSON IGNITION DEWCE FOR INTERNAL comsusno'w ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8. 1918.

'1 ,286, 175. Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

A. ERICKSON.

IGNITION DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED .IUNE8, I918. 1,286,175.

Patented Nov. 26, I918 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. ERICKSON.

IGNITION DEVICE F OR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8.1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I 1,286,175. Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

W til 2:1 r M barren err-ares earner onnron.

ALBERT ERICKSON, OLE CHICAGG, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T SPLITDORF ELECTRICAL GOM- PANY, 0F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

Application filed June 8, 1918. Serial No. 239,002.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT ERIoKsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ignition Devices for Interrial-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in ignition devices for internal combustion engines, and more particularly to an ignition device of the make-and:

break type, wherein the ignition current is supplied by a magneto generator of the plugoscillatory type.

The object of the invention is to provide an ignition device of the above character with an oscillating mechanism which can be mounted on the end of the cylinder and operated from the cam shaft or side shaft of the engine. v

A further object of the invention is to provide an ignition device of the above charactenwherein the make-and-break electrodes, the plugoscillator andthe oscillating mechanism are all carried by a unitary bracket mounted on the head of the engine cylinder. I

A still further object of the-invention is to provide a mechanism of the ,above character, W erein the advance and retarding device is lso supported on the unitary bracket carrying the other parts of the ignition device.

In the drawings which show by way ofillustration one embodiment of the invention Figure 1 is an end view showing the head of the cylinder with my improved ignition,

mechanism applied thereto, the magneto generator being removed from the supporting bracket to show the parts in rear of the same; Fig. 2 is a side view of the ignition mechanism with the magneto generator in place; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same; and Fig. 4 is a detail showing on an enlarged scale, the position of the parts when the spring actuating mechanism is tripped from engagement with the push rod.

The' invention is directed generally to an ignition device having. make-and-break electrodes mounted on a bracket attached .to the head of the cylinder. Current is supplied to theelectrod'eS fromamegneto generator,

preferably of the plugoscillatory type, which is also mounted on said bracket. The generator and the electrodes are operated by a trip actuated mechanism. When the parts are mounted on the head of the cylinder, a new arrangement of devices is necessary in order to actuate the tripping mechanism as the movement of the push rod for operating the same is now in a direction transverse of the longitudinal axis of the cylinder rather than parallel thereto. In order to provide means for operating the spring actuated tripping mechanism when located as stated, I have mounted a swinging or oscillating lever on the supporting bracket for the electrodes and the generator and the push rod. is attached to this lever, preferably through a means which permits adjustment of the connection of the rod to the lever for timing purposes. The lever is oscillated by a link connection with a crank on the cam shaft at the side of the cylinder, which shaft is usually referred to as the side shaft of the engine.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, I have shown my invention as applied to an engine having a cylinder 1, the head of the cylinder being shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. My improved ignition device includes a fixed electrode 2 and a movable electrode 3. The movable electrode 3 is carried by a shaft 4, having a cam finger 5 attached to the outer end thereof. A spring 6 bearing against this cam finger normally holds the electrodes in engagement. The electrodes are mounted in a bracket 7 which is attached to the head Mounted on this bracket is a spring actuated tripping mechanism which consists of springs 88 and a trip-lever 9. Also mounted on thebracket 7 in an integral shelf l0 which carries the magneto generator, 1n-

m'oved-to the left (as views in Figs; 1 and of the engine cylinder by suitable bolts.

it will oscillate the trip-lever 9, placing 'tripdever is also provided with a cam projection 17, which engages the push rod 14 and forces the shoulder 15 out of engagement with the abutment, thus tripping the actuat ing mechanism and permitting the springs as they return to alined position to operate the rotor or armature shaft. The trip-lever is. provided with a cam projection 18, which engages the cam linger 5 and separates the electrodes in proper tin ing for the production of the ignition spark. This particular tripping mechanism, and manner of operatingthe electrodes, forms no part oi my present inventiombut isshown, described and claimed in my prior application, Serial No. 182,728, filed July 25, 1917.

The present invention is directed particu- "larly to the manner of operating the push rod 14. Mounted on the bracket 7 is a lever 19. Said lever is mounted so as to swing freely about a pivot bolt 20. The push rod 14; is attached to and carried by this lever 19. Said push rod is mounted to turn freely on a projecting pin 21 and is held thereon, as herein shown, by a split key 22. The push rod l l surrounds a bushing 23, which is eccentric to the pin 21, and this bushing is carried by a linger piece 24, which is capable of adjustment about the pin 21, so as to adjust the position of the push rod 14 for timing purposes. A spring 25 encircles the pin 21 and one end of this spring engages the underface of the push rod 1 as indicated at 26. The other end of this spring, as indicated at 27 in Fig. 2, engages the lever 19. This spring tends to raise the outer free end of the push rod and yieldingly holds the same in contact with the trip-lever. I The lever 19 at its lower end is pivoted to a link 27. Said. lever .19 may be provided with a pivot pin 28 which extends through the end of the link and is held therein by a split key 29. lhe

' other end of the link 27 is connected to a crank 30, shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1, as carried by the shaft 31. This shaft 31 1s the cam shaft or side shaft of the engine,

and said shaft rotates so that the crank 30 moves in a complete circle, the path of which is indicated by the broken line in Fig. 1. As the shaft rotates, this crank will impart an endwise movement to the link 27, which in turn will oscillate the lever-Q19, thus moving the'push rod cndvvise back and forth and the push rod in turn Will actuate the tripping mechanism, moving the tripdever, carrying the springs out of alinement until the push rod is'tripped from connection "with the trip lever, and then the springs will operate to oscillate the rotor and separate the electrodes at the proper time for ignition. i

It will he noted-that the link 27 is made adjustable. Said link has a central part 27 which has a right and le'f hand. thro connectionivith the other f "He line and this section 27 he moved and other sections substituted therefor oil dilierent lengths, so that the actuating chani for the ignition device is readily a ustahleto adapt the same to engines of it is obvious that minor changes .e de tails of construction and a I of the parts may he made W from the spirit of the inv on, set .11 the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure hy idiotters latent, is:

1. an ignition device comprising ignition electrodes, a generator, operated mechanism for actuating the el ctrodes and generator, a push rod for trippi: the said actuating mechanism, a vibrating meinher supporting and operatino" said push rod, and a link connected to said vibrating member and adapted to he reciprocated from the rotating side shaft of the engine.

2'. An ignition device comprising ignition electrodes, a generator, operated mechanism for actuati- .g the electrodes and generator, a loracket apt l to con nected to the head oi cylinder supporting the electrodes, the generator and the operating mechanism, a push rod for tripping the actuating mechanism, means carried by the bracket for supporting and operating the push rod, and devices for operating said means the side shaft oi the engine.

3. An ignition device comprising ignition electrodes, a generautor,v spring operated mechanism for actuating electrodes'and generator, a hraclretadapted to be attached to the head. of the cylinder and supporting the electrodes, the generator and theoperate ing mechanism, a push rod for tripping theoperating mechanism, a: lever pivotally mounted on; said bracket and slipper-ting and operating saidv push rod, and means for oscillating the lever from the side shai't of the engine.

ajicn ignitiondevice comprising ignition electrodes, a generator, spring operated mechanism "for actuating the electrodes and generator, a hrachet adapted-tohe attached to the head of the cylinder and supporting the electrodes, the generator and operatingmechanism, a push rod iior tripping the hperating mechanism, a (lever nivotally and operating said push rod, means for oscillating the lever fronivthe side of the engine, said means including a link having adjustable and interchangeable parts whereby the ignition device may be readily adapted for engines oi-difierent sizes.

5. 'An ignition device comprising ignition electrodes, a generator, spring; operated iii . eonnceted to tinting the electrodes and adapted. to be attached evhmler and supporting the electrodes, th o'QKlOLStOP and the operatlng mec ianlsn'i, a 1 h rod for tripping the operating mechanism, a lever pivotally mounte bracket and supporting and operat'" said. push rod, means for oscillating the lever from the side shaft of the engine, said push rod being i'votally said lever, and a spring snp ported by the lever for normally holding the push rod in engagement with said 6;)- grating mechanism.

6. An ignition device comprising ignition electrodes, a generator, spring operated mechanism for actuating the electrodes and generator, a bracket adapted to be attached to the head of the cylinder and supporting the electrodes, the generator and the operating mechanism, a push rod for tripping the operating mechanism, a lever pivotally mounted on said bracket and supporting and operating said push rod, and means for oscillating the lever from the side shaft of the engine, said 'push rod being connected to said leverthrough adjustable devices which erinit the position of the push rod relative to the lever tobe varied for timing purposes.

J11 testimony whereof I hereunto aihx my signature.

' ALBERT ERICKSQN. 

